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G4TNU > NEWS 30.06.24 02:44l 279 Lines 13669 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 30 Jun 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 30th of June 2024
The news headlines:
* The IARU HF Championship is coming up
* Learn about the QMX+ transceiver at the next RSGB Tonight<at>8
webinar
* The Examinations Standards Committee has published its annual
report
The IARU HF Championship contest will be held between the 13th and
14th of July and there is a great opportunity for you to get involved
in a different way this year. During the contest, 'Headquarters
Stations' represent their countries and the RSGB's station GR2HQ will
be run by a network of about a dozen stations around the UK and
islands. This year, the RSGB Contest Committee has introduced a new
challenge to encourage individual stations to work the GR2HQ station
on each band-mode slot. You will be able to submit your log,
including QSOs with GR2HQ, to the RSGB contest robot for the GR2HQ
Challenge. If you include your club or group name when you submit
your log, each QSO with GR2HQ will count towards an aggregate score
for your club or team. There will be two results tables, one for
individuals taking part and one for clubs, so your QSOs can
contribute to both! Why not encourage your club members to take part
in this special challenge whether they are regular contesters or not.
By contacting the GR2HQ station you'll also help the RSGB's position
in the contest - last year the RSGB came third and the Society would
love to improve on that result. You can read more in the June RadCom
feature on the GR2HQ Challenge and you can see the rules on the RSGB
website at thersgb.org/go/gr2hq
The next RSGB Tonight<at>8 webinar is on Monday the 8th of July when
Hans Summers, G0UPL from QRP Labs will give a presentation on the
QMX+ multi-mode 160 to 6m transceiver kit design and features. This
is a great opportunity to find out more and ask questions live on the
night. You can watch on the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC
channel. Find out more about the webinar on the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/webinars
The Examinations Standards Committee has published its annual report,
relating to activities in 2023. Whilst the report shows that in 2023
there were fewer candidates across all licence levels, the number of
people taking exams so far in 2024 has increased significantly.
Another item in the report relates to the preparations that are being
made to release the bank of questions for the Full licence exam. The
ESC Chair, Tony Kent, G8PBH says that it has long been recognised
that a review of the question bank, particularly at Full level, is
well overdue and has been delayed multiple times by things such as
the need to revise the syllabus for EMF and the new licence changes.
Reviewing the question bank is the next priority of the ESC and the
Exams and Syllabus Review Group and will begin on the 1st of
September when Syllabus 1.6 is up and running. The ESC and ESRG
believe it is better that this review is conducted before the bank is
published as this should reduce the workload on the community and the
exams teams in making and responding to queries on questions that may
be withdrawn. They are hoping to release the questions in January
2025. To see the full ESC report go to rsgb.org/esc and click on the
minutes, papers and reports tab on the right.
The team from hi-impact based on the Wirral is planning its first
high-altitude balloon launch of 2024. This time, working alongside
staff and pupils from Monks Coppenhall Academy near Crewe, they will
launch at 11am on Wednesday the 3rd of July 2024, from their usual
location in Cilcewydd [KIL-KOW-WITH], near Welshpool in Wales. They
will be running a HABduino and encourage all amateurs and short-wave
listeners to upload telemetry to SondeHub. The frequency will be
434.650MHz USB, transmitting 50 Baud RTTY, 425Hz Shift and using 7N1
data format. The callsign is MONKS_HAB [note: _ is pronounced
'underscore']. Updates will be posted on hi-impact's Facebook page
and on X <at>hiimpactconsult
This year, the Churches and Chapels on the Air event will take place
on Saturday the 14th of September. If you are planning to put your
church or chapel on the air, please email John, G3XYF via
jhwresdell<at>gmail.com and he will add you to the list of
participants.
And finally, don't forget that today, the 30th, is Alexanderson Day.
The unique Alexanderson alternator, with the callsign SAQ, is
scheduled for two transmissions on 17.2kHz using CW. At 0830UTC, the
alternator will be started up and at 0900UTC the first transmission
will take place. A second transmission is scheduled for 1200UTC. You
can read more about the event and historic transmitter at
alexander.n.se
And now for details of rallies and events
Dunstable Downs Radio Club's annual rally is taking place today, the
30th, at Stockwood Park in Luton. As always, there will be plenty of
plots available on the day for ?10 each. The fee for car parking will
be ?4 per vehicle for visitors. Both of the usual entrances for
traders and visitors remain unchanged. However, the road that runs
along part of Newlands Road on the south side of the park is closed
so please plan your route accordingly. For more information visit
ddrcbootsale.org
Burton on Trent Amateur Radio Club Mini Rally and Barbecue is set to
take place on Saturday the 6th of July. The venue will be The Barley
Mow public house, Burton on Trent, DE5 9AP. Ample car parking will be
available, and admission will be free. In addition to all the usual
stalls, there will be a live demonstration of the Club's remote
access station. For more information phone Barry on 01283 540570 or
see the Club's Facebook page.
Barford Radio Rally is coming up next Sunday, the 7th, at Barford
Village Hall and Green, Barford, Norwich, NR9 4AB. Doors open at 9am
for visitors. The event features trade stands, car boot sales, bring
and buy, a charity raffle, repeater groups, catering and free car
parking. Entry is ?2.50 per person but under 16s will be admitted
free of charge. To read more about the event visit
norfolkamateurradio.org or email David, G7URP via
radio<at>dcpmicro.com
Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally is also taking place next Sunday,
the 7th, at Penair School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1TN. The doors open
at 10.30am and admission will cost ?3. There will be traders, bring
and buy, club stalls, car parking and catering is available on site.
Contact Ken, G0FIC on 01209 821073 for more information.
Now the Special Event news
Durham and District Amateur Radio Society is participating as one of
the bonus stations in the popular 13 Colonies special event. The
special callsign GB13COL has been issued for the occasion and will be
active from 1300UTC on the 1st of July to 0400UTC on the 8th of July.
The primary focus of the event will be the HF bands, but the station
will also be working on VHF and UHF bands, and via satellite, for
QSOs using SSB, CW, FM and various digital modes. If you would like
to visit the club, or want further information about GB13COL, please
contact Ray, G0VLF on 07904196283 or email g0vlf<at>yahoo.co.uk
Special callsign GX4LMR will be operated by The British Railways
Amateur Radio Society from the 5th to the 14th of July to commemorate
the first amateur tests on a moving railway train in 1924. Operators
plan to concentrate on the 40m band, depending on conditions. QSL via
the Bureau.
Now the DX news
Sylvia, OE5YYN is active as OE20SOTA until the 31st of October to
mark the 20th anniversary of Austria joining the Summits on the Air
programme. For details of a certificate that is available see QRZ.com
A member of the 69th Russian Antarctic Expedition, Igor, RQ8K will be
stationed at Progress Station, Antarctica until the end of April
2025. In his spare time, Igor is active as RI1ANE
[ROMEO-INDIA-ONE-ALPHA-NOVEMBER-ECHO] and uses FT8 on the HF bands
regularly.
Now the contest news
Today, the 30th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs
from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frncies,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Tomorrow, the 1st, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to
2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and
serial number.
On Tuesday the 2nd, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to
1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 2nd, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from
1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 3rd, the 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs
from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is
report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 3rd, the
144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using
FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and four-character
locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the
two-hour contest.
VHF National Field Day starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 6th of July
and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday the 7th of July. Using all modes on the
VHF bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 7th, the 3rd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100
to 1500UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 27th of June 2024
We had another lucky week with quite a high solar flux index, low Kp
geomagnetic numbers, few solar flares and no coronal mass ejections,
or CMEs, of note. In fact, you couldn't ask for better!
But is that all about to change? With nine active solar regions on
the Sun's surface and the return of old region 3664, now renamed
3723, it would be a brave person to suggest otherwise.
So, let's take a closer look at the Sun. Of the nine active regions
that are visible, four are classed as stable, one is classed as
declining and four are classed as growing.
With a solar flux index of 181, there is plenty of UV radiation
around. However, we are currently in the summer doldrums so maximum
useable frequencies, or MUFs, are lower than they are in the Autumn
and Winter. In other words, we are not going to see a return to
reliable worldwide DX conditions on the higher bands until mid to
late September.
There is currently only a 5% chance of a strong X-class solar flare,
although a bright coronal mass ejection was observed for a second day
off the Sun's west limb. This was directed away from our planet so
shouldn't affect us.
NOAA predicts that the Kp index could rise due to CME arrivals from
an event that left the Sun on the 24th of June. Expect a Kp of 4 or
5, with a reduction in the MUF until the geomagnetic disruption
abates. It also predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the
region of 190, hopefully with a low Kp index after the ionosphere
settles again.
MUFs over a 3,000km path are generally between 18 and 23MHz during
daylight and around 18MHz at night. This means that for the next
month or so we may expect 14MHz to remain open throughout the night.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The current week finishes with a return to unsettled weather and
cooler air, after a brief taste of summer, particularly in the south
of Britain.
There will be lows drifting in from the Atlantic during the coming
week, as well as the occasional passing weather front. Although there
was some Tropo last week, during the brief period of high pressure,
this is unlikely to be repeated in the coming week.
Therefore, we have a continuing random chance of some rain scatter,
but you will need one of the many online weather radar displays to
track the scatter regions down. Since next week also looks windier,
you might have to keep one hand on the rotator!
Meteor scatter is once again down to random events, which means an
early start in the shack to capture the higher rates in the early
mornings.
The solar conditions continue to keep trying to creep into VHF
affairs with a higher Kp index and thoughts of radio aurora, but it's
probably not a strong shout.
Now to our last item - Sporadic-E. There is still the broad summer
Sporadic-E peak, which extends into the first week of September in a
good year, so you have plenty of time. It will not always be there
but, in a test analysis of Dourbes data in June 2022, 84% of the days
reached 10m, with 18% up to 6m and around 10% to 4m or above. This
makes it worth using the 10m band to highlight the regions of
activity and then check the 6m beacons in case it strengthens to
bring in the higher bands.
Moon declination goes positive again this coming weekend so Moon peak
elevation and window lengths will increase. Perigee was on Thursday
the 27th so EME path losses are increasing again. 144MHz sky noise is
low at the start of the coming week and moderate later. From Friday
afternoon on the 5th of July to midday on Saturday, the Moon and the
Sun are very close in the sky, meaning high noise for all but the
narrowest beamwidth antennas.
And that's all from the propagation team this week.
And that's the end of the main news for this week prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain. Items for inclusion in subsequent
bulletins can be emailed to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
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